Piano-panel protector.



If. G. 'w. PAIGE. PIANO PANEL PROTECTOR.

I AQPLIOATIOK FILED JUN}: 5, 1909. I 962 043, 'PatentedJune 21, .1910.

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PIANO PANEL PROTEUTOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1909.

962,043, PatentedJune 21, .1910.

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ANDREW B 5mm no.v PHOTO-LGHCGHAPHERi WASHINGTON 0.:1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK G. W. PAIGE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

PIANO-PANEL PROTECTOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. W. PAIGE, subject of Great Britain,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano- PanelProtectors, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to piano panel protectors, and the object thereofis the production of means for protecting the front of the bottom panelboard around the pedals, and thereby preventing the usual destructivemarring of said panel by the shoe tips of the musician using the pedals.

Another object of the invention is the production of a curtain, whichcan be easily drawn and held beneath the pedals and can also be readilyreleased, and will immediately be drawn to a withdrawn position and beout of view when it is not desired to use the curtain.

With these and other objects in View, this invention consists of certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano showing myimproved device attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionalfragmentary view of the piano, showing my improved device attachedthereto; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the roller supporting bracketshown supporting the curtain in front of the lower panel board. Fig. 4is a fragmentary View in ele vation of one end of the roller supportingbracket. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View of the roller showing thecoil spring mounted therein. Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 ofFig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective looking at the under side of theroll supporting bracket.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the body of thepiano, which is provided under the key board thereof with the ordinarylowerpa'nel board 2 through which extend, near the lower portion thereofpedals 3. The panel board 2 is spaced apart, at its upper edge, from thelower edge of the key board, so as to allow the curtain hereinafterdescribed to readily pass between the key board and the lower panelboard. Secured to the under surface of the key Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed June 5, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Serial No. 500,347.

boardsupport is a roller supporting bracket 5, which is provided, ateach end, with a plurality of protruding fingers or portions 6, whichportions are provided near their upper ends with apertures 7 throughwhich are adapted to pass pins 8 for securing said bracket to the undersurface of the key board support. The bracket 5 is also provided withdepending arms 9 which are bent from the body portion 5 intermediate thefingers 6. One of the depending arms 9 is provided with an aperture 10,which is lined with any suitable material, preferably buck skin coatedwith graphite to form a good bearing for one end of the roller 11, whichis adapted to be positioned therein. The lining for the aperture 10overhangs each side of the arm 9, as shown in Fig. 6 and indicated at12. Therefore, it will be obvious that the lining forms a substantiallyspool-shaped structure. Only one of the arms 9 is formed in accordancewith the foregoing description, as the other is formed, as is the casewith the ordinary curtain support in the following manner: The other arm9 is provided with a slotted portion adapted to receive the squared endof the roller to which squared end is fixedly secured one end of thecoil spring 13, which end of the coil spring 13 is fixedly secured tothe roller 11'. Therefore, it will be obvious that when the curtain isdrawn to the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the tension of the coilspring 13 will be increased and as soon as the lower end of the curtain4 is detached from the pedals the curtain will readily withdraw or Windaround the roller through the medium of the coil spring 13.

The roller 11 is lined upon its inner portion with a felt lining 14,which prevents the coil spring 13 from vibrating against the inner wallof the roller when the instrument is played. To the under surface of thekey board support is also secured a bracket 15, which is provided withoflt'set ends 16, which ends are adapted to be secured to the bottom ofthe key board support by any suitable fastening means. The curtain 4,which is attached at its inner end to the roller 11 passes through thebracket 15 and the bracket 15 is positioned a little in front of thepanel board 2, so as to allow the curtain to be drawn in front of thepanel board 2, without coming in engagement with the same. A rod 17 issecured to the lower end of the curtain 4: and when thelowerend isreleased from thepedals 3 the curtain, as previously stated, willimmediately be wound around the roller and by means of therod 17 thecurtain. will be preventedfrom being entirely wound around the rollerfor the reason that the ends of the rod 17 will engage the sides of thebracket 15 and re' venttheouter end of the curtain from being drawnthrough the bracket; The lower end of the curtain & is provided with anaperture 18 which is adapted to engage the pedals 3 and hold the curtainin extended position. The edges of the aperture 18 are folded andstitched, so as to prevent the same from being made larger through wear.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen I that I haveprovided an ad'- justable curtain, which can be drawn over the lowerpanel board and protect the same from being marred while the instrumentis being used, and can also be readily and quickly released, so as to behidden from view when thesaine is not used. c c

It will also be obvidus that I have pm vided simple and 'efiicient meansfor supporting a curtain upon a piano.

What I claim is: I

1. The combination with a piano having a slot in the upper part of thepanel below the key board, and a guide located below the key board infront of said slot, of a. springactuated roller niount'ed beneath thekey board in the rear of said slot, and a curtain secured to saidroller, and extending through said slot and guide and having means forsecuring it in lowered position over the front of said panel to thepedals.

2. The combination with a piano having a slot in the upper part of thepanel below the key board; and a guide bracket below the key board infront of said slot, of a springactuated roller mounted beneath the keyboard in rear of said slot, and having means for preventing rattling ofits spring, and a curtain secured to said roller, and ex- 2 seemstending through said slot and bracket and having a slot at its lower endfor engagemeat with the pedals of the piano.

The combination with a piano having a slot in the upper part of thepanel below the key beard, and a guide bracket below the key board infront of said slot, of a spring rbller mounted beneath the key board inrear of said slot, and a curtain secured to said roller and extendingthrough saidslot andbra'cket, and having a slot at its lower end toengage the pedals, and projections to prevent its end from passingthrough the bracket.

I l: The 'combin'ation with a piano having a slot in the upper part ofthe panel below the key board, "and a guide bracket below the key board,in front of said slot, of a bracket with depending arms secured beneaththe key board in the rear of said slot and provided with rollerbearings, the roller bearing. of one of said arms being cushioned, aspring-roller mounted in said arms, anda curtain secured to said rollerandextending through said slot and bracket and having a slot at itslower end adapted to engage the piano pedals.

v 5. The. combination with a piano having a slot. in the upper part ofthe panel below the key board and a guide bracket below the key board infront of said slot, of a bracket with depending arms secured beneath thekey board inth'eiear of said slot, and provided with roller bearings,the roller bearing of one of said arms being cushioned, a spring rollermounted in said arms and lined with felt to prevent rattling ofthe'spring', and a curtain secured to said roller and extending throughsaid slot and bracket and having a slot at its lower end adapted toengage the piano pedals.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

. FREDERICK G. W. PAIGE. Witnesses F; P. SoirRoEnnn, H; C; SoHRonDER.

